ISFKoGStudy-Part1

Scripture: Matt 4:23

●         Jesus' main message was the good news of the Kingdom (Matt 9:35)

●         “Kingdom” is another way of saying “rule” or  “government”

●         The “Kingdom” is not the church or Christianity

●         The Kingdom has always existed (Ps 103:19), but has now broken into history

●         Jesus brought the kingdom into our world (Luke 11:20)

●         The Kingdom is the rule of God in Christ, which created the church, and is already destroying God's enemies (Col 1:13, Matt 16:17-19)

●         The kingdom is also a future state, when God's rule will be perfectly experienced (Rev 21:1-4,22-27, 1 Cor 15:50)

●         The mystery of the kingdom: God's rule is here, but not in its fullness (Matthew 13:24-30)

●         We must enter the kingdom through repentance, faith and the new birth (John 3:5-6, 16)

●         The kingdom can be accepted or rejected now, because it is hidden and comes in secret (Mark 4:11,30-32)

●         There are only two kingdoms in this world, and they oppose each other (Matt 12:25-28)

Discussion Questions:

1.    What do you think of when you hear the word “kingdom”?

2.    How was the kingdom described in the Old Testament (Is 2:1-4, Is 9:6-7)? How was Jesus' message different from this (Luke 17:20-21, 24-25)?

3.    What are some signs of God's rule entering into our lives? ( Luke 10:8-15 OR Luke 19:1-9)

4.    How is the future kingdom described?  (Rev 21:1-4,22-27)

5.    How do we enter into the kingdom?  (John 3:5-6, 16)

6.    What are the signs of the kingdom of darkness (Eph 2:1-3, Gal 5:16-21)? How are we different(v22)? Why are we different?